A year and a half has passed since the British Petroleum oil spill devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast and BP's clean up efforts are continuing.

On Tuesday, work crews at Pensacola Beach, Fla., began digging up a large group tar patties buried in the sand near the Portofino Resort.

Craig Savage, BP's spokesman, told the Pensacola News Journal that the patties were discovered during the summer, but the company had to wait until after sea turtle nesting season to remove them.

"These tar patties were identified through the combined efforts of our BP beach cleanup crews and our federal and state SCAT team members," Savage said.

"Our commitment for this project, as it has been for the duration of our cleanup operations, is to remove the tar patties in the safest and most efficient manner, taking into consideration the environment and the public," he added.

Savage explained the tar patties range from being big as a golf ball to the size of a small dinner plate.